Method and apparatus for manufacturing feather cottons



Sept. 6, 1938. M. KOGA 2,129,219

' METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING FEATHER COTTONS Filed April'16, 1937 l LA H J*** l l U INVENTOR.

Patented Sept. 6, .1938

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Moichiro Koga, Tokyo, Japan ApplicationApril 16, 1937, Serial No. 137,371

2 Claims. (Cl. 19-66) My invention relates to a method of and anapparatus for manufacturing feather cottons adapted for use as cushionsand mattresses, and has for its object the provision of elastic andexpansible feather cottons of best quality, which are free from wormsand have sufificient moistureproof nature necessary for feather cottons.

Feather cottons have heretofore been manufacturedmainly from thefeathers of waterfowls which are waterproof. Though such feather cottonshave advantages of being highly elastic and expansive and havingsuificient thermal capacity. yet bacteria enter into the stem throughthe fissure of feather so that worms may hatch and considerable time isrequired for the repair and preservation of feathers. Particularlychicken feathers have not sufficient waterproof nature as compared withthose of water-fowls and are liable to absorb moisture and to loseelasticity and expansibility so that the feathers of chicken did notshow full advantages as feather cottons.

A chief object of my invention is to improve the manner of disinfectingthe feathers and to add. waterproof properties so that the chickenfeathers which were neglected and almost valueless may be profitablyutilized to manufacture good cushions and mattresses.

An apparatus for carrying out the method of my invention is shown in theaccompanying drawing. a single figure of which is a partial sectionalelevation of a feather twisting machine.

Referring to the drawing, I represents the casing of a feather twistingscrew machine having a spiral groove therein; .2 is a screw rod put inthe casing l and rotatably supportedon the bearings 3 and 4. 5 is adriving pulley and 6 represents a hopper. 1 represents a forcing platepressed on the outlet opening of the casing I by a spring II and the rod10 of the plate is supv ported on the bearings 8 and 9.

In accordance with my invention, the feathers are first pressed andcrushed so as to be easily bent and then the feathers are twisted byexternal force and at the same'time are warmed up to maintain thetwisted shape. Such feathers are then treated with formalin which entersinto the structure of the feather through the fissures or crushedspaces, thereby perfectly disinfecting the feather, not only on itsouter part but also in its interior to prevent hatching of worms. Thegelatinous substance inherent in the feathers is fused out by thewarming up and combines with the formalin vapour to form a waterproof"film over the exterior and in the interior of the feather so that thefeathers become waterproof and are not softened by moisture. The filmalso increases the elasticity and expansibillty to a degree equal tothat of the feathers of water-fowls. If the present method is ap- 5plied to the feathers of water-fowls more effective feather cottons can'of course be manufactured.

A manner of carrying out my invention will be explained in thefollowing:- v

At first the feathers are put into a sterilizing chamber andhermetically sealed for two or three days and sterilized with knownsterilizing agent according to an ordinary method; then the feathers aredipped into water and washed with soap in warm water. After the feathersare washed with clean water for several times they are dried.

Then the feathers are passed between cooperating rollers to be pressedand crushed so that the feather together with stem are collapsed andflattened. Thus treated feathers are supplied to the hopper 6 of thescrew machine as shown in the drawing and if the screw rod 2 is turnedby means of the pulley 5 the feathers are twisted around the rod 2 andforced through the coop- 5 crating spiral grooves between the rod 2 andthe casing i. The curved and twisted'feathers are delivered to theoutlet opening ll of the casing i which is closed by the forcing plate Iso that the feathers filled in the spiral groove are compressed andgradually delivered out by forcing out the plate 1 against the spring H.When the feathers are forced through the spiral groove between thecasing I and the rod 2 the gelatinous substance contained in the featheritself is fused out by the heat due to the friction between the feathersand the casing I and rod 2 and forms gelatinous film covering thefeather so that the twisted or bent form of the feather may bemaintained forever. Such film also adds waterproof nature or thefeather. The casing l' or rod 2 may be heated by external heat source toa required temperature, if desired. After such treatments the feathersare put in a closed drying chamber and subjected to a temperature ofabout 100* C. for about thirty minutes and the formalin va-' .pour issupplied into the chamber. The formalin vapour enters into the featherstructure through the crushed stem and fissures to perfectly disinfectthe feathers. The fused or oozed out gelatinous substances combine withthe formalin vapour to form insoluble formaldehyde condensationproducts, thereby establishing water-proof film in the interior and overthe exterior parts of the feather. Thus the finished products maintainthe bent, warped or twisted shapes forever giving sufficient elasticityand expansibility and are free from worms, thus providing very splendidfeather cottons.

I claim:

1. A method of manufacturing feather cottons comprising pressing andcrushing the feathers, 1

warping and twisting the feathers by applying pressure and warming up,heating the crushed feathers to about 100 C., to free the gelatinoussubstance therein, impregnating the feathers with formalin vapours toform a waterproof

